Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Hot and Muggy

Hoo boy, is it just me or is it awfully HOT for June? When I was growing up (back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth), we enjoyed four seasons. Winter would gradually give way to several weeks of cool nights and warm days when flowers poked their little heads up out of the ground and trees burst into bloom. We would enjoy several weeks of very temperate weather before the real heat of summer set in, chasing us into the shade of trees where we found relief by wriggling our bare toes into the shade-cooled grass.

Now it seems that we jump from frost warnings to high heat-indexes. We've been subjected to pop-up thundershowers and high humidity for the past few days. It's been much too hot for me to be able to enjoy the balcony. I've been soaking up air conditioning and looking longingly outside at brief interludes of sunshine. Oh well, it makes it easier to bear the thoughts of going to the office, at least. *LOL*

I've worked my way through a brief period of just feeling crummy thanks to a sinus infection, but am feeling much better now. I have so many things that I need to get done at home, but by the time I get there, I just want to curl up with knitting needles and the remote control until bedtime. I think I need to get back into my old habit of making a home work schedule for myself. Even if I don't adhere to it, it at least gives me a plan and a sense of direction. Yup, the more I think about it, the more I think that's what I should do...

...if it's not too hot when I get home. :-)

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Adventures in Wal-Mart

There are two Wal-Mart stores in my town. From my home it's actually a little closer to the Wal-Mart #2. But the Wal-Mart #1 is on the way home from work, so it's been getting most of my business for years.

However, I think that's coming to an end. Why? Several reasons. One is that Wal-Mart #1 has one of the most dangerous parking lots I've ever encountered. There are several restaurants and other businesses (including a Sam's Club) sharing the entrances and exits, and it's a real nightmare. I don't think I've ever been in that parking lot without at least one close call.

Another reason is that very few "associates" in Wal-Mart #1 seem to care if you need help or not. Yesterday I stopped in to pick up a "Site-to-Store" order (Daddy's Father's Day gift). It was the first time I'd used this service, and it worked well. Until I got to the store to pick it up. I stopped in at Customer Service to find out where I needed to pick up the package. I actually did get courteous instructions from the young woman on where the Site-to-Store pickup area was located, and thanked her. However, when I arrived at the pickup area, no one seemed interested in helping me. As instructed, I pressed a screen at the register and received a message that an associate was on the way to assist me. Four associates walked right past me without so much as looking my direction. Another associate came to the register, smiled at me, took a notebook from under the counter and did something with it, replaced the notebook, smiled again and left. She never ONCE asked if I needed assistance. I pressed the screen again. Another associate came from another area and asked if anyone was helping me. When I told her that several people had walked past, but no one was helping, she was very nice about retrieving my package and making sure that I'd received the item I'd ordered. The next time I use Site-to-Store, it'll be shipped to the OTHER Wal-Mart.

One of the biggest reasons I'll be using the other Wal-Mart is that the temperature in Wal-Mart #1 is HOT. Year round. Summer, Spring, Winter or Fall, I come out of that store soaked in perspiration. Now I'll be the first to admit that I warm up easily, but I'm able to shop comfortably in all other retail stores in the area, so why do I melt down every time I go into that Wal-Mart? I've complained about the heat repeatedly and am always told that the temperature in their store is set in the home office. Maybe the home office should watch the Weather Channel once in awhile.

Oh well. Enough griping for one post. *LOL* At least Daddy's gift was what I ordered, and seems to work as I'd hoped.

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Luck of the Draw

Yesterday I exchanged a few e-mails with a nice lady from work who's been dealing with an injury she suffered over a year ago. During the exchange I commented that I'm just unbelievably lucky. It's true...I'm lucky, and I know it.

Last June when my leg pain became completely unbearable, an Urgent Care doctor referred me to a specialist that I'd never heard of before. That specialist happened to be involved in a clinical trial that I'd never heard about. When surgery date rolled around in November there was a 1-in-3 chance that I'd be chosen as a test subject who would receive a spinal fusion instead of the stabilization device being tested, but I received the device. My recovery from the surgical procedure was so quick it was nearly miraculous, and the device continues to work even better than I'd ever hoped.

And two weeks ago today, I set up my Coleman tent on a beautiful campsite under tall trees in the fresh clean air for the first time in 18 months.

I am just so lucky.